UK Pods is making significant strides on a global scale by supplying specialised safety equipment and expertise for a diverse range of services spanning healthcare, social care, education, security, police, and prison services. Their core aim is to support services in reducing reliance on excessive restrictive practices by offering safer alternatives in risk-reducing strategies within highly sensitive areas of practice. UK Pods' flagship product, the Safety Pod™, has garnered recognition for providing graded environmental support and safety in various settings, from healthcare establishments to educational environments.
Background
With a mission to encourage good practice and end reliance on force, the Safety Pod™ has revolutionised services for vulnerable individuals of all ages and needs. It serves as a vital aid for professionals in delivering the highest level of care and support in potentially challenging situations. UK Pods believes that the Safety Pod™ should be considered as an alternative option within any organisation facing the potential risk of physical intervention.
The Made Smarter Scheme
Made Smarter is an initiative aimed at propelling the UK to the forefront of advanced digital technologies. It offers support and resources for manufacturers to adopt digital tools and streamline their operations. Through Made Smarter, manufacturers can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance competitiveness in the global market. The scheme connects technology innovators with the manufacturing community to address operational challenges and drive innovation.
Why Made Smarter and Fitfactory?
Rebecca Claydon, Business Process Manager at UK Pods, explains their decision to participate in the Made Smarter grant scheme: "Initially, we felt it was time to introduce a CRM system to track customers. Our team and customer base were growing, and we felt that this is where the Made Smarter programme would provide further information and support. The support, knowledge, and experiences of others really drove the decision that an MES system was required to introduce manufacturing and administration processes and track production, stock, and customers."
Process and Partnership with Fitfactory
Participating in Made Smarter workshops provided by Teesside University proved invaluable for UK Pods. Rebecca recalls, "Listening to the experiences of others who had already implemented systems made us realise it was important to get this right first time. If not, it could be a costly and lengthy task. The initial meeting with Fitfactory was excellent. They used lots of visual aids of each service/system provided. This is the point where I fully understood how the digital systems could help UK PODS in all aspects of business growth."
Issues Resolved and Top Tips
Through their involvement with Fitfactory and the Made Smarter scheme, UK Pods addressed critical issues, including customer database management, workflow optimisation, stock control, quality control, and accountability. Rebecca shares her top tips: "Prepare – cleanse your data – understand what you want from the system and work back from there."
Impact and Benefits
Fitfactory's solution enabled UK Pods to track data for KPIs effectively, leading to improved forecasting capabilities. Rebecca emphasises, "It has enabled us to track data for KPIs, meaning we can forecast more effectively. Excellent support, any queries are resolved in quick time." The ongoing support provided by Fitfactory ensures that any queries are resolved promptly, contributing to UK Pods' continued success.
Conclusion
The partnership between UK Pods and Fitfactory exemplifies how leveraging tailored solutions can drive operational improvements, enhance customer satisfaction, and facilitate business growth. By embracing digital transformation through the Made Smarter grant scheme and Fitfactory's expertise, UK Pods is well-positioned to continue its mission of providing safer alternatives and support services worldwide.